Anthropology and Dreams: Concepts, Methods, and Future Directions

Dreams, a universal human experience, have long been a subject of inquiry among humans, as it has been immensely influencing our lives and existence. For instance, Russian chemist Dmitri Mendeleev claimed that the arrangement of the periodic table came to him in a dream; he saw all the elements fall into place, and upon waking, he wrote down what he had seen. One of the greatest minds to ever exist on earth, Albert Einstein himself mentioned a dream where he was sledding down a mountainside at the speed of light which played a role in the conceptualization of his theory of relativity. Even in popular culture dreams played a pivotal role, as the melody for the Beatles’ song “Yesterday” came to Paul McCartney in a dream and the Game of Thrones universe is the way it is because of prophetic dreams of Targariyans.

Dreams, because of their potential to influence our lives, have long been a subject of intrigue and study across various disciplines. Anthropology, with its unique lens on human societies and cultures, offers a rich perspective on dreams. This essay traces the intertwined evolution of concepts and methods in the anthropological study of dreams, emphasizing the empirical studies and scholarly works that have shaped our understanding.

The Interplay of Concepts and Methods

Historically, the study of dreams in anthropology was influenced by broader intellectual currents. Early anthropologists, drawing from Freudian psychoanalysis, viewed dreams as windows into individual subconscious desires¹. However, as the discipline matured, it became evident that dreams were deeply embedded in cultural contexts.

Cultural Interpretation of Dreams: Different cultures interpret dreams in varied ways. Geertz’s work highlighted how dreams played a role in religious practices and interpretations in different cultures¹. Mittermaier, in her work “Dreams that Matter,” delves into the Egyptian landscapes of imagination, emphasizing the ethical dimensions of visitational dreams².

Dreams as Social Commentary: Solomonova et al.’s study during the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that dreams can offer insights into societal structures and tensions³. Degarrod’s study on “Embodying dreams and emotions in the streets of the San Francisco Bay Area” offers a unique perspective on how dreams manifest in physical spaces and public expressions⁴.

Dreams and Identity: Dreams can be influenced by personal and collective experiences³. Karen McCarthy Brown’s “Mama Lola: A Vodou Priestess in Brooklyn” provides a deep dive into the world of Vodou and the significance of dreams and promises in shaping religious and personal identities⁵.

To study these concepts, anthropologists have employed a range of methods:

Participant Observation: Living and interacting with communities to understand their dream practices and interpretations.

Ethnographic Interviews: Directly asking individuals about their dreams and their meanings provides rich qualitative data⁶.

Dream Journals: A method where participants keep detailed records of their dreams over extended periods⁷.

Drawing Dreams: Some anthropologists, like Ward, have encouraged participants to draw or visually represent their dreams⁸.

Mixed Methods: As highlighted by Bailey et al., employing a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods can provide a comprehensive perspective on dreams⁶.

Future Directions

The study of dreams in anthropology is ever-evolving. With advancements in technology and interdisciplinary collaborations, new methods like digital ethnography and neuroanthropology are emerging. These methods, combined with traditional anthropological approaches, promise richer insights into the world of dreams.

In conclusion, dreams offer a unique vantage point to understand both individuals and cultures. The intertwined evolution of concepts and methods in anthropology ensures that the study of dreams remains a dynamic and vital area of inquiry.

References:

(Note: The essay is based on the provided scholarly articles and is a synthesized understanding of the topic. For a more comprehensive understanding, one should delve deeper into each cited work.)